country by river.
At first, the Irish had no answer to these raiders. Those who lived in the monasteries were holy, peaceful men and not warriors. They were easily overcome, though not without a great deal of bloodshed, for the Vikings were bloodthirsty, and even killed people who posed them no threat.
As the number of raids increased, the monks took action to protect themselves. Whenever there was the threat of an attack, they hid their most valued treasures, usually by burying them. This is why from time to time we have found this buried treasure. In these circumstances, we have to assume that no one was left behind in the monastery to dig up the treasure once the Vikings left. So everyone must have been killed or taken as slaves.
The monks also built round towers, tall circular buildings, which also doubled as bell towers, the bell being rung to warn of a raid. These towers, which can still be seen dotted0 about the Irish countryside, could have up to five floors, which were reached by ladders inside the tower. The most important point about these towers was that the only entrance was situated high up on the wall and could only be reached by a ladder, which then could be pulled up once everyone was inside.
The ringing of the bell must have struck terror into everyone who heard it. All knew that they had to gain the safety of the round tower before the bloodthirsty warriors arrived. Everyone in the monastery and the surrounding area would have stopped what they were doing and rushed to the tower. There would have been great panic and much screaming and crying. In the distance, the terror-stricken people would have heard the more terrifying screams and shouts and the beating of weapons on shields of the approaching raiders.
Amidst great confusion, the people would have scrambled up the ladder and into the tower. Once everyone was inside, the ladder was drawn up and the entrance closed off by a heavy wooden door. The people inside were now safe from attack and from narrow slits in the walls could defend themselves. They may have been able to throw spears at the Vikings or shoot arrows at them or throw stones down on top of them. But they could not prevent the plundering and burning that went on, and could only look on helplessly until the raiders had taken whatever was of value and returned to their ships, leaving buildings and crops in flames.
After years of carrying out raids on Ireland, the Vikings changed their tactics. Instead of returning home after a raid, they remained behind, at first settling along the coast. They founded settlements in Dublin, Wexford, Waterford, Cork and Limerick, and these settlements eventually became towns and great centres of trade. Within fifty years of their first raids, a Viking, Olaf the White, ruled Dublin. When he was killed, Ivar the Boneless, son of Ragnar Hairy-Britches, became king.
During this time the Vikings continued to fight the native Irish and to raid monasteries and other settlements. Then, like the Celts before them, they began to mingle with the Irish population. Marriages took place between the Vikings and the Irish. Alliances were also formed and often the Vikings and an Irish king would join forces to wage war on another Irish king or even on other Vikings. One great battle was fought at Tara in 980 in which Malachy II, king of Meath and who claimed to be the High King, defeated the Vikings and their Irish allies. Malachy also defeated and captured another Viking warrior, Turgeis. He had Turgeis placed in a barrel, which was then rolled down a hill into Lough Ennell, County Westmeath, where the Viking leader drowned.
At this time, there was still no real High King of Ireland, though many kings, like Malachy II, laid claim to such a title. Then around the year 1000 a man emerged who could rightly claim to be the High King of Ireland. His name was Brian Boru, and he was already king of the O’Briens of Munster.
Brian Boru was born around AD 940 and lived at the
At first, the Irish had no answer to these raiders. Those who lived in the monasteries were holy, peaceful men and not warriors. They were easily overcome, though not without a great deal of bloodshed, for the Vikings were bloodthirsty, and even killed people who posed them no threat.
As the number of raids increased, the monks took action to protect themselves. Whenever there was the threat of an attack, they hid their most valued treasures, usually by burying them. This is why from time to time we have found this buried treasure. In these circumstances, we have to assume that no one was left behind in the monastery to dig up the treasure once the Vikings left. So everyone must have been killed or taken as slaves.
The monks also built round towers, tall circular buildings, which also doubled as bell towers, the bell being rung to warn of a raid. These towers, which can still be seen dotted0 about the Irish countryside, could have up to five floors, which were reached by ladders inside the tower. The most important point about these towers was that the only entrance was situated high up on the wall and could only be reached by a ladder, which then could be pulled up once everyone was inside.
The ringing of the bell must have struck terror into everyone who heard it. All knew that they had to gain the safety of the round tower before the bloodthirsty warriors arrived. Everyone in the monastery and the surrounding area would have stopped what they were doing and rushed to the tower. There would have been great panic and much screaming and crying. In the distance, the terror-stricken people would have heard the more terrifying screams and shouts and the beating of weapons on shields of the approaching raiders.
Amidst great confusion, the people would have scrambled up the ladder and into the tower. Once everyone was inside, the ladder was drawn up and the entrance closed off by a heavy wooden door. The people inside were now safe from attack and from narrow slits in the walls could defend themselves. They may have been able to throw spears at the Vikings or shoot arrows at them or throw stones down on top of them. But they could not prevent the plundering and burning that went on, and could only look on helplessly until the raiders had taken whatever was of value and returned to their ships, leaving buildings and crops in flames.
After years of carrying out raids on Ireland, the Vikings changed their tactics. Instead of returning home after a raid, they remained behind, at first settling along the coast. They founded settlements in Dublin, Wexford, Waterford, Cork and Limerick, and these settlements eventually became towns and great centres of trade. Within fifty years of their first raids, a Viking, Olaf the White, ruled Dublin. When he was killed, Ivar the Boneless, son of Ragnar Hairy-Britches, became king.
During this time the Vikings continued to fight the native Irish and to raid monasteries and other settlements. Then, like the Celts before them, they began to mingle with the Irish population. Marriages took place between the Vikings and the Irish. Alliances were also formed and often the Vikings and an Irish king would join forces to wage war on another Irish king or even on other Vikings. One great battle was fought at Tara in 980 in which Malachy II, king of Meath and who claimed to be the High King, defeated the Vikings and their Irish allies. Malachy also defeated and captured another Viking warrior, Turgeis. He had Turgeis placed in a barrel, which was then rolled down a hill into Lough Ennell, County Westmeath, where the Viking leader drowned.
At this time, there was still no real High King of Ireland, though many kings, like Malachy II, laid claim to such a title. Then around the year 1000 a man emerged who could rightly claim to be the High King of Ireland. His name was Brian Boru, and he was already king of the O’Briens of Munster.
Brian Boru was born around AD 940 and lived at the
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